Collapsible basket



April 25, 1933. D. MILLER COLLAPSIBLE BASKET Filed Dec. 15, 1930 Um 11 MILLER INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1933 DAVID MILLER, or BnooKLYiv, NEW YORK COLLAPSIBLE BASKET Application filed December 15, 1930. Serial No. 502,532.

The object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle which may be readily used for receiving merchandise and which may be readily collapsed or folded when not in use so as to facilitate its shipment or storing without taking a great deal of room.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide in combination with such collapsible receptacle, means for facilitating the receptacle to be put into operative or merchandise-receiving position in the quickest possible manner by unskilled labor.

The foregoing and further objects will be more fully apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing forming part of my disclosure, but by no means intended to limit same to the actual showing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top view of my device shown in its collapsed or folded form.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of my device shown in its merchandise-receiving position in full lines, and in its collapsed form in broken lines.

Fig. 3 is a detail View partially in crosssection showing the construction of the bottom portion of my device; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of a corner attaching plate used in my device.

Referring to the drawing, numeral denotes the bottom of my device, which is preferably made of relatively rigid material, as for instance sheet metal, veneer wood or the like, and which is preferably equipped with a bottom side frame indicated at 11 terminating in upright ends 12 serving as stops, the function of which will be explained presently.

Disposed above bottom 10 there will be observed a rigid frame 13, equipped with similar end stops 14, and preferably provided at the shorter end with handles 15 adapted to facilitate carrying of the receptacle.

Interposed between the bottom and the top portion of my device, and preferably secured D to the periphery of both, is a pliable side producing member 16, preferably made of flexible fabric, either waterproof or otherwise, which is adapted to fill the space between bottom and top when my device is in its receiving position.

(5.. Hingedly secured to the stop ends 12 and 14 of the bottom and top respectively are col lapsible connections 17, in the form of two levers18 and'19, inter-hinged with each other at 20, and so arranged that their interhinged portions move towards each other when my device is to be collapsed.

.Hingedly secured to the interhinged portion 20 are hinge extensions 21, preferably equipped with detents 22. A connecting rod 23 is hingedly associated with the detent ends ofmember 21. Thewhole arrangement be tweenthe interhin'ged connections 20 is shown to be symmetrical. In other words, hinge connections 21 are of the same length and collapsible members 18 and 19 operate symmetrically, as is clearly indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2.

The operation of my device is very simple in that the device may be set up by simply elevating the top frame 13 until the collapsible connections 18 and 19 are practically stretched and by pressing down upon connecting rod 23, theends of which are engaged by detents 22 of hinged members 21. In this position connection rod 23 andhinged member 21 form a brace between the collapsible connection 17 whereby my receptacle retains its set-up position. v -The collapsing of my device is still easier to accomplish in that it is required only to pull upon connecting rod 23 which oper ation causes the drawing together of interhinged points 20 of the collapsible connections and the entire device then assumes the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2.

p In. order to properly secure the corner portions of member 16 to the bottom 10 and top frame 13, I have provided corner plates 23 preferably secured by means of screw 24 and so arranged as to engage with its corner portion 25, seen in Fig. 4, the reinforced end 26 of member 16.

Having just described my invention in the form shown on the drawing, be it understood that advantages and improvements may be incorporated therein without departing from the broad scope thereof.

What I claim as new is 1. A foldable receptacle, comprising in 100 combination, rigid bottom and top members, the latter in the form of an endless frame, a pliable side forming member peripherally associated with the two former members, colq lapsible connections arranged in oppositely disposed pairs associated with said bottom and top members, and symmetrically arranged spreading means interposed between each pair of said connections, said collapsible connection comprising interhinged links having their free ends connected with said top and bottom members and said spreading means comprising jointed elements connecting adjacent pairs of interhinged links.

15 2. A foldable receptacle, as per claim 1, said symmetrically arranged spreading means comprising short connecting members hingedly connected with the joints of said interhinged links and providing detents, and

a a bar hingedly connected with said connecting members, said detents adapted to engage said bar when the latter and said interhinged links are in position of spreading said collapsible connections.

5 3. A collapsible crate or basket comprising the combination of a bag made of foldable material, a rigid frame attached to the bag at the top thereof, a rigid bottom attached to the bag at the bottom thereof, jointed a uprights each pivotally connected with said frame and bottom, said uprights being arranged in pairs, and a jointed brace pivotally connected with and arranged between the uprights of each pair.

a 4. A foldable receptacle comprising, in combination, rigid top and bottom members, the former in the form of an endless frame, a pliable side member peripherally associated with the two former members, interhinged 49 links arranged in oppositely disposed pairs and symmetrically connected with their free ends to said top and bottom members and adapted to collapse with their interhinged connections towards each other, and symmetrically arranged spreading means connecting certain pairs of said interhinged links.

5. A collapsible crate or basket structure having the combination of a top frame, a

50 bottom, jointed uprights each pivotally connected with said frame and bottom, said up rights being arranged in pairs, and a ointed brace pivotally connected with and arranged between the uprights of each pair.

55 In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

DAVID MILLER. 

